ESPN Sprint Cup

Kyle Busch needs to lean on someone for a little brotherly advice, but it isn't big brother Kurt. That relationship is a bit cool at times.

The man Busch needs to talk to is Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart. If anyone can help Busch now, Stewart is the guy. He can tell Busch what he needs to know. And Busch will listen because he realizes Stewart has been where Busch is now.

The playoff system and one bad race have erased a huge points lead. Now Busch has to fight for it, the same way Stewart did in 2005.

Stewart had a 209-point lead over the field before the Chase started that season. That advantage was reduced to five points the next week. NASCAR didn't add the bonus for regular-season victories until last season.

Two weeks into the 2005 Chase, Stewart was fifth in the standings, 23 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. One week later, he finished second at Talladega and led the rest of the way.

Stewart had a similar situation in 2002 when he won his first Cup title in the old points system. Stewart was third, 74 points behind leader Mark Martin, after the September Dover event. Two weeks later, Stewart was first, 72 points ahead of Martin, and never trailed again.

Stewart did not win a race in the final 10 events in either of his championship seasons. So what can Stewart tell Busch?

Don't panic. Stay the course. The playoff system worked against you. So what? You're still the team to beat. You've been the best all season. Now prove it.

Busch had a 208-point lead over Carl Edwards before the playoff started. That changed to a 30-point lead last week, but his misfortune at Loudon (a 34th-place finish) put him 74 points down in eighth place.

Busch was furious after the race. Who could blame him?

Stewart knows the feeling. He can help guide Busch through the rough spot. But there's one problem: Stewart's still in this thing. He now ranks one point ahead of Busch in the Chase standings.

And these two men won't be teammates much longer. Nine more weeks and Stewart's off to build his empire at Stewart Haas Racing.

So Stewart could say to Busch: "Sorry, pal. You're on your own."

He won't do that. Stewart might seem ruthless at times, but he also has an instinct to tutor and teach.

Stewart probably sees a lot of himself in Busch. Both of them have enormous talent and race aggressively. Both of them wear their emotions on the sleeve of their fire suits and let it get the best of them at times.

That's where Stewart can help Busch the most. Don't let the disappointment, anger and frustration of the moment keep you from accomplishing the task at hand.

It's a simple message. But hearing it from Stewart, a guy who lived it, might make the difference for Busch.

Good news for Red Bull Racing
Tuesday was Christmas Day at Red Bull Racing. Jay Frye is staying and will continue to run the operation.

Red Bull officials announced that Frye has signed a multiyear agreement to remain the vice president and general manager.

Frye was being wooed by Tony Stewart to take the GM role for Stewart Haas Racing next season. It had to be a tempting offer for Frye because Stewart's team has a partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, the place where Frye's career began. He has a close relationship with team owner Rick Hendrick.

Frye flew to Austria two weeks ago to meet with TRB owner Dietrich Mateschitz. Apparently, Mateschitz made Frye an offer he couldn't refuse and convinced Frye he was committed to making TRB a championship contender.

Frye is the executive of the year this season in NASCAR with the job he's done in turning around the operation since arriving a month before the 2008 season started.

Brian Vickers finished 38th in the standings for the new Toyota team in 2007, but he was a contender for the Chase this year under Frye's guidance. Vickers ranks 16th in the standings with six top-10s in the No. 83 Camry.

AJ Allmendinger has shown huge improvement over his rookie season of 2007 and could get the No. 84 Toyota back inside the important top 35 in owners' points before the season ends.

And TRB has former Formula One driver Scott Speed waiting in the wings. Speed leads the ARCA standings this year and has four victories. He also won a Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover.

The future is bright at TRB, and it got a little brighter Tuesday with Frye's decision to stay.

Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at terry@blountspeak.com.